SPRING 2019 BATH MATTERS THE BATH PRESERVATION TRUST NEWSLETTER 89 Tom Burrows Media Tom ‘OUR TOWER’

We are very excited to announce that the complete this project to restore the Tower and Heritage Site Committee and many local groups National Lottery Heritage Fund bid for a major Landscape. We are looking to raise nearly including Age UK, ‘Off the Record’ and project at Beckford’s Tower has been £300,000 that will secure the Tower’s future. Creativity Works, as well as those in the nearby submitted. We will find out in mid-June if we These funds will cover conservation works, housing development including Anchor Hanover have been successful in securing the first phase land acquisition, community projects and new who run the new care home and staff at the funding. building work including iron window grilles and new Primary School, Abbot Alphege Academy. This project is driven by conservation needs gates. Special project elements include new If you can help with fundraising or feel able to of Beckford’s Tower, which led to the building footpaths, opening the Grotto Tunnel and support the project yourself, please contact being placed on the National ‘At Risk’ Register, basement areas, lighting the top of the Tower, a Claire Dixon at [email protected] who will recognising that despite timely maintenance new roof top walkway, interpretation of the be very happy to hear from you. Whether or over the last twenty years we lack the financial landscape and for the first time, a specially not we are successful in our grant application, resources to meet this urgent need. We are designed museum with new interpretation and the conservation works have to be completed applying now, to make the most of an narratives about William Beckford. New and the amount we raise will determine the opportunity to engage with new residents of standards will enable us to display items from extent of work we can achieve. the housing development over the road at Beckford’s internationally significant collection We will keep you informed as our fundraising Ensleigh, which includes a care home, school not seen before. A Library and Archive project campaign develops. There will be opportunities and 800 residents. will make resources available to researchers. to support us through many different events We are applying for £2,587,900 towards a This project relies on us working with many and activities and we thank you for your total project cost of £2,877,400. As valued partners and we’re thrilled to have the support ongoing support. members, we want you to be the first to hear of colleagues at B&NES, Historic England, The about our new fundraising campaign to help us Landmark Trust, the National Trust, the World

2 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk WelcomeWelcomeWelcome

Thomas Sheppard Caroline Kay CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN CHIEFCHIEF EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE

Welcome to our spring edition of Bath Matters. “Heritage anchors people to their roots, builds self- Although we welcomed seven new trustees to our Board last esteem, and restores dignity. Identity matters to all summer we still have a few specific trustee vacancies. If you vibrant cities and all people,” have substantial professional experience in town planning, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte. conservation architecture, finance or public relations, then do consider making an application to be a trustee. We are keen to There is a growing focus on the relationship between heritage broaden our age and experience profile and so the only two and well-being. The newly-launched strategic framework for the absolute requirements are membership of the Trust and a National Lottery Heritage Fund (formerly HLF) requires any passion for Bath’s heritage and sustainable future. applicant for funding to address how their project will improve We have spent time reflecting on the emerging challenges for wellbeing, and Historic England have published a report Bath ten years from now and how we can make sure the Trust is ‘Wellbeing and the Historic Environment’. well prepared. Although still a work in progress we see some It is an appropriate, if stretching, challenge to expect even small emerging threads; organisations like BPT to have a measurable impact on • a growing focus on the city’s environment and on the general wellbeing. So many drivers for wellbeing are related to major wellbeing of its citizens; social factors (such as poverty) that we do not have any prospect • how to maintain the infrastructure of our city for a rising of alleviating it in any population-wide sense. Nor, indeed, is the number of tourists (currently almost five million) and relief of poverty one of our charitable remits. However, we are • with the city’s traditional retail experience under pressure, the an organisation working for public benefit, and it is clearly impact on our central streets if there are to be more empty important that we should seek to widen participation in our shops. activities to the widest possible group of ‘the public’ and also Another emerging theme is whether our traditional offer bridges to people who might otherwise encounter barriers membership model is the only way that individuals can show to participation. their support for the Trust. We have three times as many For a number of years now, our learning and outreach ‘followers’ on Twitter as we do paid-up members; is this a lack of programme has done exactly this; often working in partnership willingness to take on the ‘commitment’ of membership, or do with other organisations, we have been able to engage with people wish to express their support in different ways? We have individuals who might otherwise not get involved with heritage, to look at the ways we engage with our citizens especially across due to issues of age, isolation or physical and mental health the generations. There is much to think about. challenges. We are therefore very positive about being assessed For 2019 the Trust’s four museums have a programme of on a contribution to wellbeing in relation to grant funding. This activities and events around the theme of “the image” which comes to the fore in relation to our planned Lottery application explores how we capture special moments, people and places, for Beckford’s Tower ‘Our Tower – Reconnecting Beckford’s whether through the painted image or photography. We had a Tower and Landscape for All’ – where we see a number of themed programme on women’s suffrage last year and it was outcomes being related to wellbeing including providing fascinating to see how each museum made its own contribution; physical opportunities for people to connect better with the I am looking forward to seeing how they work together with this landscape, strengthening the identity of the new community at year’s theme. Ensleigh and minority or disadvantaged groups by helping If you enjoy what the Trust does then, if you do not do so develop new connections with this totemic building, and helping already, you may be tempted to volunteer. We are always the Tower to provide a sense of ‘arrival’, ‘belonging’ or ‘return’ to looking for help to support our museums maybe as a guide, or Bath, given its visibility from so many of the city’s approaches. perhaps behind the scenes with practical skills looking after our Whether it is through this or our other museums, or for our buildings, or perhaps as a trustee. At the very least I encourage work around planning which seeks to keep Bath’s heritage alive you to ask others to consider Trust membership or give and well as part of a vibrant city, we hope indeed that our work membership as a gift. can make people feel better – about their city, about their sense Thank you for your support. of place in it, and about themselves.

@Bathprestrust 3

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 3 @Bathprestrust 3 BPT_newsletter_spring18.indd 3 15/03/2018 11:31

BPT_newsletter_spring18.indd 3 15/03/2018 11:31 Campaigning

DEVELOPING PROPOSALS INCLUDE RIVERSIDE PUBLIC REALM AND NEW STADIUM BUILDING. THIS IMAGE FROM THE SECOND CONSULTATION (COURTESY ARENA 1865) IS NOT A VERIFIED VIEW. GREAT SPAS OF EUROPE Bath’s bid for a rare double-listing as a World Heritage Site, ranking it alongside cities like Bruges and Barcelona, was made to UNESCO in January. The city is joining ten other European spa towns in seeking UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) recognition for their role as leading historic spa towns which changed the culture of Europe. Spas were a huge European phenomenon STADIUM FOR BATH from the 18th century to the early 20th century but only a handful of the grandest spas now survive in an authentic form. In We have submitted a detailed response to the assessment of harm versus specifically defined the days before modern medicine natural recent round two consultation on designs for a public benefit. mineral waters were taken to treat pain and new rugby stadium on the Rec. Having been Our response continues to focus on concerns disease and the spa towns become resorts actively engaged with the project since its over the impact of the height of the stands on for wealthy and famous clientele in a inception we have given detailed responses to the historic townscape and the visual impact on precursor to mass tourism. Spa towns have emerging plans at each stage. The plans being key views across the World Heritage Site. We many unique urban forms and significant developed by Grimshaw Architects are the are also concerned about the current design for architectural ensembles in common, most detailed yet and we have been able to certain parts of the stadium including the including spa buildings and visitor facilities give feedback on all elements presented at the principle corners (NW and SE) and the East such as spa houses, pleasure gardens, consultation, as well as urging the team to Stand, which is currently unresolved and colonnades, churches, theatres, casinos, ensure that the planning application contains all uninspiring. We also addressed many other dedicated hotels and boarding houses. the necessary supporting documentation matters in our response which can be read in The built fabric of the towns combined with required for a scheme of this size and impact, full on our website. We are expecting a planning their parks and green spaces and including views analysis and a thorough application to be submitted later this year. surrounding ‘therapeutic landscape’ make them identifiably distinctive cities. It has taken over 8 years of collaborative discussion and planning across Europe to World Heritage Day – complete the 1,434 page Great Spas of Save the date Europe World Heritage Site nomination. All being well, a recommendation will be Bath World Heritage Day 2019 will take place presented to the 44th annual session of the on Thursday 18 April. Join us at Green Park UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Station from 11am to 3pm for FREE activities June/July 2020 when the final decision will suitable for all ages which will explore the be made. city’s architectural achievements and engineering landmarks – past, present and future. Our Conservation staff will be giving talks and leading walks around Western Riverside and our Learning & Engagement team will be offering the chance to try your OPEN HOUSE hand at stone carving, and you can also watch Our planning, conservation and membership expert stone masons at work. team are located in the Schoolhouse at the We look forward to seeing you there! More Museum of Bath Architecture, on The Paragon. details to follow on our website and e-news We are always happy to have visitors so feel soon. free to drop in to the Schoolhouse Monday to HAVING A GO AT STONE CARVING Thursday 10am to 4pm.

4 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk BAIRDS MALTHOUSE, AMBRY 1964 BY LESLEY GREEN THE PARK PLACE INTERIORS SURVEY RECORDS AND A SKETCH OF SOMERSET BUILDINGS, MILSOM STREET 1939, ARMYTAGE ONCE STOOD ON THE BATH QUAYS NORTH FROM A COLLECTION OF PENCIL DRAWINGS BY R GRUNDY HEAPE PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF DETAILS AND CHANGES SITE BEING DEVELOPED FOR LARGE OFFICE BUILDINGS. TO BUILDINGS. ALL IMAGES CREDITED TO MUSEUM OF BATH ARCHITECTURE. BUILDING THE PICTURE This year the exhibition themes across our museums are inspired by the use of imagery.

Photography, drawings and artworks all have an 2. The BPT archive. Open by appointment 7. Victoria Art Gallery. Collections include important part to play when it comes to you can search the archive which includes works of art by artists who lived and worked in researching house histories for your own drawings, maps and photographs. We also the Bath area and painted local scenes. Also interest or the planning and listed building have an Interiors Survey detailing the interior topographical collection of Bath prints and consent application process. They provide decoration of many listed buildings. www. drawings 18th-20th centuries. Search online. valuable evidence of how urban and rural bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/archives-library http://art.bathnes.gov.uk/ow23/collections/ landscapes, buildings and places have changed index.xsp over time, and they support the research 3. Bath Archives and Local Studies needed to inform the approach to new Collection. Historic records relating to Bath 8. Historic England Archives. Online development, design solutions, and the and the surrounding area including maps, collections include The National Buildings accompanying design and access and heritage photos, and 100,000 building plans. Online Record, England’s Places – architectural red statements and historic building reports. When catalogues and guide to building research. box collection, and Archive History. Search it comes to managing change, image-based www.batharchives.co.uk/records-house-history online. https://archive.historicengland.org.uk/ research is essential to help us understand the character and value of the historic environment 4. Know your Place. Digital historic 9. Britain From Above. Aerial Photographs. and the heritage interest of buildings, to mapping for B&NES with some photographic dating from 1919 to 2006, the total collection minimise harm. images relating to locations. presents an unparalleled picture of the If you’re interested in researching the history www.kypwest.org.uk/ changing face of Britain in the 20th century. It of your house, street, favourite public space, includes the largest and most significant landmark or local area here are our top 10 5. The National Heritage List for number of air photographs of Britain taken resources: England. You can search for listed buildings before 1939. The collection is varied and and add your own photos to ‘enrich the list’. includes urban, suburban, rural, coastal and 1. Bath in Time. This website has over https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/ industrial scenes, providing important evidence 40,000 19th-20th century local images online to for understanding and managing the built and view, purchase prints, or licence for commercial 6. Images of England. A ‘point in time’ natural environments. use. The collection has important contributions photographic library of England’s listed www.britainfromabove.org.uk from Bath Preservation Trust and the Museum buildings, recorded at the turn of the 21st of Bath Architecture. www.bathintime.co.uk century. You can view over 300,000 images of 10. The National Archives. A database of England’s built heritage from lamp posts to local history images and other resources held at lavatories, phone boxes to toll booths, mile Record Offices in England & Wales. Maps, stones to gravestones, as well as thousands of plans, architectural drawings and photography bridges, historic houses and churches. can be searched online. http://discovery. www.imagesofengland.org.uk/ nationalarchives.gov.uk/

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 5 Campaigning WE’VE HAD OUR SAY… It’s been a busy winter for consultation also concerned that there is no proposed extensions can be put under a PD umbrella responses. We supported the aims of the Clean strategy for retail within the city and that the because each proposal should be considered Air Zone (CAZ) but have serious concerns suggested policy relating to holiday on its merits and against policy criteria. We’ve about elements of the plans, including the accommodation was too weak and lacked since signed an open letter to the Secretary of overall zone boundaries (we felt the whole city clarity. State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities should be covered to limit ‘rat running’). In The Planning Reform paper in January 2019 and Local Government, joining signatories responding we stated that a CAZ can only be looked at relaxing change-of-use rules for retail Shelter, RIBA and CPRE. successful (and equitable in social terms) if units to make some changes of uses permitted there are viable alternative ways to travel, good development (PD) including allowing some walking routes, safe cycling infrastructure, and roof extensions (i.e ‘air space’) to be PD, in most importantly, cheap and widespread public order to bring additional housing forward. We transport; an overall ‘package of measures’ to expressed strong concerns regarding both reduce reliance on the car. issues; we feel that that the answer to the crisis B&NES consulted on the Issues & Options for currently faced by the high street is not via the new Local Plan 2016-2036 in late relaxing planning rules or sidelining the December. In particular, we supported planning system (which exists to manage provisional new policy options for purpose built change appropriately) as this could have further student accommodation, but were astonished adverse effects on the vitality, amenity, design to see that B&NES’s suggested ‘Vision’ for the quality and character of high streets and future of the region did not include a reference accelerate harmful change and loss. to heritage, which is key to the economic, social Similarly, whilst we support urban and cultural value and future success. We were intensification, we do not believe that upwards Cartoon courtesy of Civic Voice

YOUR MATTERS Our response Over the years in Bath there have been changes to ‘fashions’ in Email from Mark: thinking about alterations to listed buildings. ‘Precedent’ with regards to other buildings in the terrace is not a consideration in the planning I have had an offer accepted on a Grade II listed property in Bath process. Whilst there is a current trend for ‘knocking through’ to suit but I have discussed with the vendor that I wish to seek advice modern living, this can be seen as harmful to the ‘special interest’ of on whether some alterations (mostly internal) would be the ‘heritage asset’, as it disrupts historic plan-form and the ability to permitted before proceeding with the sale. I am led to believe ‘read’ the building as it was originally built and used. Knocking through the property has been owned/inhabited by the same family for is usually resisted by the planning authority, unless it can be shown almost a generation. It is therefore in need of a sensitive but full that the walls in question are modern additions or alterations and refurbishment. therefore plan-form and fabric has been lost already. At the very least, Internally, the ground floor archway between the sitting room the stubs of any removed walls are required to be retained. In the case and the kitchen appears to have been blocked up with a stud of the basement, if the walls are stud for example, this may indicate wall at some point in the past. Many of the other properties on that the room layout is more modern, and therefore their removal the terrace (on visual inspection from street level) have this arch could be justified. In this case, with a niched arch on the ground floor, open, creating an open plan space at ground floor level. it would be highly unlikely you could remove or open this up given it is At lower ground level, the space is arranged as two separate a known surviving original feature of the dining rooms in this terrace rooms, a hallway and a bathroom. All are in a state of disrepair (a sideboard would be placed in the niche for serving plates). The fact and have not been used for some time but I would imagine they it has been lost in other buildings makes its survival even more were used as a separate apartment at some point. I would like to important. reinstate this space as a kitchen/dining area. However, to make As always we stress that each proposal is determined on its own it more conducive to modern living, I would like to remove some merits, and you can aid the process by providing detailed internal walls to make the space open plan and family documentation which shows understanding of the building; its orientated. Any advice or comments you can make in the historical development and significance, and any other conservation or meantime would be greatly appreciated. public benefits as part of the proposal. Such information helps the officer to consider your proposal and justification and weigh up the We’d love to hear your views and queries on heritage overall planning balance. Our publication Making Changes provides and planning issues that matter most to you. Please more information, contact us for a copy. write to us at [email protected] We are always happy to provide advice on conservation and or call 01225 338727. planning, however we recommend that you also consult the Local Planning Authority as their views may differ.

6 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk Campaigning Planning applications at a glance

4-5 Railway Place This office building sits opposite the Railway Station next to the Royal Mail office. A recent application proposed to refurbish and modernise the building, including some major external alterations and the addition of an extra storey with a large amount of new glazing. The proposed nearly new building would be significantly higher than current, and would intrude on short and longer views into, over and out of the World Heritage Site, the conservation area and the setting of the listed buildings nearby including Brunel’s Grade II* listed station. The Trust submitted a strong objection to the scheme. The decision is currently pending and we have recently seen a new application for change of use (under permitted development rules) of the building to residential apartments with only internal changes.

Conker Crossing Plumb Centre, A community-led scheme to construct a new Locksbrook Road bridge over the Kennet and Avon canal at Bathampton gave the Trust’s expert advisers on We reluctantly objected to this scheme for the Architecture & Planning Committee much a large mixed use development opposite to debate. The project came about after the the listed Herman Miller building on community decided to find a solution to safety Locksbrook Road. The scheme proposed fears about the constricted nature of the demolition of the current Plumb Centre village’s roads and the lack of pavements on the Prior Park Dams building and replacement with a building listed 18th century bridge which is the only An ambitious project from the National Trust to incorporating industrial space, a gym and crossing over the canal. ‘future proof’ the iconic ponds at Prior Park has student accommodation, and had some The proposed bridge is a lightweight and been submitted to B&NES for planning good elements, particularly the interesting contemporary sculptural piece of engineering; approval. BPT has had regular reviews of the use of an industrial design aesthetic with designed to allow easy access across the canal developing proposals and we are pleased to creative materials. However the building is for all on foot, buggies, chairs and bikes. Our support the scheme. The project aims to one storey too high in our view, and would internal debates centred on the restore and conserve the ponds, the banks and have an over-dominant effect on the appropriateness of a new intervention into the water management controls which have eroded Herman Miller building. We also have an canal being so boldly different to the current over time) and to install largely hidden in-principle objection to more private- historic character of canal infrastructure. There state-of-the-art 21st century flood engineering sector student accommodation units in was also concern regarding the amount of to ensure the dams can withstand and safely town given it is not certain that there is disruption to the canal towpath, and the manage future climate change flooding. The more need for this type of accommodation proximity and therefore impact of this new design uses both modern and traditional crafts nor that it is relieving pressure on Bath’s bridge on the setting of the picturesque listed and materials in a sensitive and well detailed family housing. road/canal bridge just to the west. Our way to ensure the visual beauty of the ponds response took a measured approach, and dams are maintained and enhanced. Lost describing the concerns and suggesting the features original to the landscape as created by improvements of some of our advisers, but also Ralph Allen will also be reinstated, for example recognised that the new bridge brought with it the central cascade in the middle dam, work a suite of benefits and the light, modern, which will be supported by the World Heritage sculptured, see-through design was a good Site Enhancement Fund. We understand the response to the sensitivities of the site. project will begin in 2019.

CONSERVING THE FUTURE – A LEGACY FOR ALL Thanks to a very generous legacy from late American BPT member Carl Mays, a distinguished conservation architect with a great love of Bath, BPT plans to launch later this year a paid internship programme with the purpose of giving to young planners, conservation architects and buildings historians the important work experience which can lead to future employment in the sector. We are currently in discussion with University partners to discuss how to take forward the internship scheme this year and also to provide other learning opportunities for former and future BPT interns. The generosity of this legacy will be recognised in the naming of the fund as the Carl and Jeannette Mays Conservation Fund and more details will appear soon in e-news and on our website.

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 7 Learning and Community Engagement

FAMILY ACTIVITIES Every school holiday throughout the year, there is always plenty on offer for visiting families to help them understand and enjoy BPT’s exciting collections and exhibitions. During the February half-term, there was a chance to design a doll in either late Georgian or Regency costume at No. 1, while at the Museum of Bath Architecture, a rhyming trail and try-on costumes helped children explore the museum. At the Herschel Museum, Native American AGE UK MEMBERS ENJOYING A TALK THE ASTRONOMY CLUB AT ST MARK’S FROM BATH ASTRONOMERS SCHOOL EXPLORING TELESCOPES moon calendars could be made. STARGAZING AT THE HERSCHEL MUSEUM This project, funded by the Ernest Cook Trust, is aimed at enhancing our offer to all visitors to the Herschel Museum. Recent activities have included stargazing through telescopes for the general public and also Age UK (B&NES) members. In collaboration with members of Bath Astronomers and the William Herschel Society, visitors have been able to use the replica of the telescope used to discover Uranus as well as a modern Dobsonian model. Young and old alike have enjoyed talks and also experienced a Virtual Reality spacewalk. We have also been visiting Astronomy Clubs in secondary schools to give students a hands-on chance to find out

more about telescopes and how to identify features in the sky. DRESSING UP AS GEORGIAN CRAFTSPEOPLE AT MOBA Photography at the Tower The BPT’s community engagement work continues to grow with several creative projects supporting mental health. The ‘Snap and Stroll’ photography group, in partnership with Creativity Works, has visited Beckford’s Tower to take some artistic shots and their work is on display in the Servants’ Hall at No.1. The @freshart project is part of the Pathways to Wellbeing project with other Bath museums. The group makes artwork inspired by No.1 which is displayed on hospital wards to brighten the environment. A NEW VIEW OF BECKFORD’S TOWER THE ‘SNAP AND STROLL’ GROUP AT BECKFORD’S TOWER © KATIE ATHERTON

AN EVENT FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 5th April at the Holburne Museum, Bath Learning Symposium: ‘Why Museums Matter for Mental Health’. Aimed at any museum goer who is interested in this fascinating and important area of work, the event will bring together museums, arts organisations and mental health and social care professionals. 10am to 4.30pm, £30 including refreshments and welcome pack For more information and to book a place visit: www.holburne.org/events/symposium-why-museums-matter-for-mental-health/

8 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk Membership TOURS & WALKS A key benefit of membership is to join the tours and walks we arrange. Peta Hall has again assisted us in arranging some wonderful days out for this year’s tours including:

ENCOMBE HOUSE ESTATE OXFORD – THE OLD AND THE NEW Purbeck, Dorset Thursday 20th June 2019 Thursday 16th May 2019 9am to 6:30pm approx 9:30am to 7pm approx Oxford, like Bath, has seen the development of A private visit to this stunning Georgian house new buildings in its historic heart and we will and 2,000 acre estate, with 60 acres of formal hear from an expert on contemporary gardens, built by John Pitt MP in the late architecture in Oxford followed by a private 18th century. tour of the Ashmolean. Cost: £50 per person Cost: £50 per person LAST FEW PLACES ONLY WEST HORSLEY PLACE near Guildford, Surrey Wednesday, 11th September 2019 8:30am to 7pm approx West Horsley Place is owned by Bamber Gascoigne and is undergoing a vast restoration programme and we are very privileged to be allowed to see this magnificent estate at this time. We will also visit Polesden Lacey (National Trust) en route. Cost: £55 per person or £65 for non NT members UPTON HOUSE Tetbury Upton, Gloucestershire Tuesday, 2nd July 2019 10am to 6:30pm approx Walks 2019 A private visit to this classical Georgian This summer our walks cover wide ranging country house built in 1752 where the subjects which we hope will intrigue you. present owner commissioned a new double- For more information and to book please height hall and wing in 2005. The house email [email protected] featured in Country Life in Sept 2017. BATHAMPTON (led by Stuart Burroughs) Cost: £45 per person Tuesday, 11 June & Wednesday, 19 June TO BOOK A walk to look at Bathampton’s history and your places on these tours, associations from the founding of Australia please contact Jan Hull to plasticine. on 01225 338727 or [email protected] BECKFORD AND THE ENSLEIGH DEVELOPMENT (led by Amy Frost) Tuesday, 23 July & Saturday, 27 July Find out about the ‘Our Tower’ project and then explore the new community on the PLEASE JOIN US former MOD site at Ensleigh. THE BOAST OF HERALDRY We are always grateful for the support our members provide the Trust but we are keen to (led by Roland Symons) increase the number of members so, as Thomas Sheppard says, we encourage you to ask Wednesday, 7 August your friends and family to consider joining the Trust or giving membership as a gift. And do & Tuesday, 13 August remember that membership provides free admission to all our museums to see the special Come and learn something about heraldry in exhibitions as well as the permanent collections. If you would like more details please contact Bath, including the many coats of arms, on Jan Hull, Membership Engagement Officer on [email protected] this fascinating walk.

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 9 No. 1 Royal Crescent IMAGE CONTROL

THE FOUR WORTHIES – AN EXAMPLE OF THE WAY GEORGIANS PORTRAYED THEMSELVES

In 2019, our exhibition We are setting this against how living in the £10 note; yet even that image is questioned ‘Age of Instagram’, people are surrounded by and challenged by earlier portraits and images, entitled ‘Image Control: carefully curated images of ideal lifestyles and of which only one actually dates to a time when standards, increasingly impacting mental Jane Austen was alive. Following this line of The Power of Perception wellbeing. However, we know that this theme thought, we look to the first resident of No. 1 Then & Now’ will be is not new and that this can be seen through Royal Crescent, Henry Sandford. As far as we different mediums throughout history. The are aware, there are no known images of him, exploring how 250 years exhibition will invite you to dissect images of yet we know him intimately through the historic the past and encourage you to question both record and also the clues he left behind in his ago, the Georgians in historical and contemporary pictures and writings, his career and his family. Using this decide what the truth behind the image is. information, we have commissioned three Bath manipulated their We are also looking at how we can create an contemporary artists to create their own image of a historic figure where no known personal interpretation of him to be displayed in own portraits to express image exists. The most famous example of this the main museum as part of the exhibition. messages about their is Jane Austen – whose image features on the lives and interests.

10 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk No. 1 Royal Crescent

Focus on the Collection UPCOMING Our closed period at No.1 is often one of the EVENTS busiest times of the year for the staff. This time is Our events programme this year is as varied as normal – from lectures and talks used to deep clean the entire house as well as to interactive demonstrations! Our Costumed Interpreters will be appearing carry out all the annual maintenance tasks. once a month to talk about all aspects of life in Georgian England, from medicine to This year’s closed period was a particularly exciting one as we welcomed two new loans to the cooking and laundry. We will also be collection – we now have two paintings by Allen Ramsey hanging on the staircase leading up to carrying on our popular Conservation In the first floor. Action sessions regularly, exploring how Allen Ramsey, a Scot, is one of the foremost mid Georgian artists of the time so it is a really lovely we look after and preserve our wonderful opportunity for us to show some of his finer portraits. He attended an academy in Edinburgh, collection. continuing his artistic education in Rome and Naples in Italy; visiting periodically throughout his We will also be taking part again in the lifetime. He established a successful studio in London and many British residents commissioned Jane Austen Festival in September but portraits from him between the 1730’s and 1770’s. He also returned to Edinburgh regularly. King instead of our normal twilight tours, we will George III appointed him King’s painter (officially Principal Painter-in-Ordinary) in 1761, beating his be talking about food and kitchens with rival Joshua Reynolds who spitefully remarked that Ramsay was “not a good painter” (Biographer interactive demonstrations and tours. Party Alistair Smart, 1952). in the City will be returning as part of Bath The portraits are of Peter and Amy Burrell (nee Raymond). Peter Burrell was a sub-governor of Festival and we are bringing back our the South Sea Company and Member of Parliament (Hazelmere 1722-54 and Dover 1755-56). Museum Lates. The Christmas Lates were popular so once a month we will be MAIN IMAGE: PETER BURRELL AS IT WAS BEING UNPACKED. INSET: PETER AND AMY BURRELL ON THE STAIRCASE. opening part of the Museum late – each event will have a different theme – from ‘Image Control’ to Halloween and Christmas! More information is available through our website.

OUR VOLUNTEERS We began our year with our pre-season conference which included the introduction of Volunteer Induction Packs and our new BPT volunteer website. These packs are designed to act as a valuable source of information and training for all new and existing volunteers. Content of the packs vary depending on a volunteer’s role and location but all will contain the BPT volunteer guide as well as this year’s learning, training and lecture program. This year also saw the introduction of new BPT lanyards and badges. In line with our 2019 Volunteer Action Plan (based on the results of our 2018 Volunteer Survey) our first of three Volunteer Open Days was held at No. 1 Royal Crescent in late January when we recruited a dozen volunteers in various roles across the Trust. We’re pleased to say they’re already in training. Charlotte will continue to concentrate more time on volunteer recruitment and retention and new recruitment posters are now up across the city. We have also established a good new relationship with the VirginCare team, which promotes volunteer recruitment in the city.

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 11 Museum of Bath Architecture

Architectural BATH IN MY EYES BY HASSAN EL-WAKEEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Architecture is all around The Museum of Bath Architecture is exploring the intrinsic link between architecture and us; virtually everywhere photography and the way in which people engage in the built environment through we go there is some kind photographs. Come and see the competition of building, structure or winners and runners up photos from our Architectural Photographer of the Year space. Photography is Competition 2018. As part of the exhibition we will have a now the most accessible number of related items for sale in the shop including Simon Christie’s (2nd Place in the format of recording our Bath Architecture category) “Bath Thankas” cards and Benedict Brain’s “Brains Foto lives especially with the guides” maps. development of the The Museum of Bath Architecture is open: Mon – Fri 1pm to 5pm Sat & Sun 10am to 5pm smart phone. CAMDEN CRESCENT SQUARED BY SIMON CHRISTIE

12 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk Museum of Bath Architecture

RECENT ACQUISITION UPCOMING EVENTS

AT MUSEUM OF BATH Introduction to Photography ARCHITECTURE 11 & 18 March, 22 & 29 April, 10 & 17 June, 23 & 30 Sept. The Museum has recently been given a small construction work in progress, is in the Victoria Run over two workshops aimed at the watercolour sketch by David Cox (1783-1859) Art Gallery collection and several Cox views of beginner and intermediate inscribed ‘Bath from the Beacon Cliff’ and the city were published as a collection of prints photographer. Learn the basics of dated c.1810. It is one of a series of Bath views in 1820. What makes this new addition to our composition, camera settings, lighting made by Cox who was a leading early collection significant is that views of buildings and photoshop. The workshops are nineteenth century watercolour artist. The under construction during the Georgian period based at the Museum of Bath sketches were probably made in preparation are quite rare, and this generous gift adds to Architecture but also include a photo for larger works. The image shows a team of our ability to illustrate the processes behind the walk of Bath. masons at work, surrounded by large blocks of creation of the city. The watercolour can now 10am to 12:30pm. £15 per workshop Bath stone and scaffolding. A similar view of be seen at the museum in one of our new the city from Beacon Cliff, but without the display cases.

YELLOW VESPA BY TIM BEALE

Introduction to British Architecture Part 3: 1914-2000 26 March & 2 April The final part of our course covering British Architecture, this time looking at the move from Early 20th century Classicism and Art Deco Modernism to Post War Brutalism, Postmodernism and the move to High Tech. 9:30am to 12:30pm £25 per session, refreshments included. For more details or to book contact [email protected] Introduction to Bath BATH FROM THE BEACON CLIFF BY DAVID COX Architecture 21, 28 May & 4 June By popular demand we are introducing a new 3 week course looking at the key periods, buildings OUR VOLUNTEERS and designers that built Bath. Join Dr Amy Frost as she explores Bath We welcome Ian Thomson, our newest addition to the volunteer team here at MoBA. architecture from the 18th to the Ian is a retired architect with a keen interest in architectural history and talented 20th century. architectural photographer. 9.30am to 12.30pm Two of our weekend volunteers, Alana & Geni, have now left us having completed £25 per session, their MAs and returned home. We are now in the process of advertising and recruiting refreshments included to fill those shifts. For more details or to book contact [email protected]

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 13 Beckford’s Tower and Museum

LAKE NEMI BY JOHN ROBERT COZENS, C1783-8. © TATE, LONDON 2018 PICTURES & POSTCARDS William Beckford spent a lifetime travelling Europe, visiting famous cites and exploring unusual landscapes.

Every destination saw new items enter his his own hand. Pictures and Postcards: collection and every journey resulted in new Beckford’s Souvenirs explores how Beckford writings and ideas. He recorded these travels in captured his travels at a time before the words but also in images, through artists invention of photography, and how others have commissioned to travel with him, or sketches in recorded their visits to his Tower in Bath.

14 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk Beckford’s Tower and Museum

UPCOMING EVENTS

6 & 7 April, 13 & 14 April Wednesday, 2 October Tuesday, 29 October and 20 & 21 April Beckford Birthday Lecture and Thursday, 31 October Quirky Quiz Trail for families The Beckford Birthday Lecture is our Lansdown Cemetery Tours Come and discover some of William annual fundraising event, and we are Join us for atmospheric evening tours of Beckford’s surprising treasures with delighted to have Charles Courtenay, Lansdown Cemetery. We will explore our quirky quiz trail. 19th Earl of Devon, joining us this year to some of the cemetery’s most notable Free with museum admission speak about William Beckford’s time at burials, learn about the history of the Powderham Castle – the seat of the Earls landscape, and (weather permitting!) of Devon. get a chance to experience sunset from Weekends from 24 July – 31 August The Museum of Bath Architecture the Tower’s Belvedere. 6.30pm, £10 From 5pm to 6:30pm, £10 Summer spirals Find out why our spiral staircase is pink and called cantilevered, make your BECKFORD BOOK GROUP own spiral and climb the 154 steps to enjoy the view. ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier 7pm to 8.30pm, £5 Tuesday, 25 June Free with museum admission ‘Vathek’ 7pm to 8.30pm, £5 Tuesday, 24 September

OUR VOLUNTEERS Beckford’s Tower is currently recruiting for people to join our team of friendly and enthusiastic volunteer guides. With a major project in the near future, this is an exciting time to join the team at the Tower and be involved in how we shape and share the museum and surrounding landscape with visitors in the years to come. If you’d like to know more about our volunteering opportunities, please get in touch at [email protected]

WEDDINGS We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with two local businesses to expand our weddings offer at Beckford’s Tower. The Beckford Bottle Shop, located on Saville Row behind the Assembly Rooms, will be the official supplier of wine for Beckford’s Tower weddings. For couples looking to continue their celebrations in Bath following a Tower ceremony, No. 15 Great Pulteney Street can provide stylish and eclectic private dining rooms and seasonal or bespoke menus.

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 15 Herschel Museum of Astronomy

1:40 SCALE MODEL OF THE HERSCHEL SPACE OBSERVATORY, COMMISSIONED FOR THE ‘INVISIBLE LIGHT’ EXHIBITION AND MADE BY REBECCA GALLO (© REBECCA GALLO)

In March 1800, using three thermometers, a prism and a piece of white card, William Herschel made one of science’s most ground breaking discoveries, infrared radiation. Used today in devices ranging from TV remote controls to space satellites, infrared is helping us to push boundaries in medicine, understand global William Herschel warming, and photograph the furthest reaches of our universe. This year we explore how Herschel made all this possible through and Infrared his discovery of ‘invisible light’.

The exhibition at the Herschel Museum will explore how infrared photography has enabled feature exciting loans from the Royal us to look further into space than ever before Astronomical Society and Science Museum. through two important infrared telescopes, Visitors will be able to view the notebook IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) and the where William Herschel recorded the findings Herschel Space Observatory. Finally, visitors from his ground breaking experiments and will be able to learn about the different uses of some of the equipment he used: a glass prism infrared today, including thermal imaging and a handmade speculum metal mirror in a cameras used in medicine and surveys which heliostatic mounting. The exhibition will also show how energy-efficient your house is.

16 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk Herschel Museum of Astronomy

EVENTS Running throughout the 2019 season will be a series of lectures and talks corresponding to the ‘Invisible Light’ exhibition and a number of astronomical observing sessions from the Museum garden, full details are on the Museum’s website.

Tuesday, 16 April Thursday, 11 April Thursday, 21 June and Tuesday, 28 May Shine a Light on Science Solar Observing at the Herschel A family workshop to explore Light and Infrared radiation: Seeing farther Museum of Astronomy Colour – the Science of Rainbows, Infrared, and deeper, talk by Dr Bob Fosbury Take part in daytime astronomy on the day Spectroscopes and more! at No. 1 Royal Crescent of the summer solstice from the very Located at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific A free talk about Infrared light for families garden the Planet Uranus was discovered Institution and Herschel Museum. with children aged 9 years and above by in 1781. 10am to 1pm Dr Bob Fosbury, an astronomer who 10am to 2pm worked for 26 years at the European Space Free with normal admission Tickets: bathboxoffice.org.uk Agency on the Hubble telescope. £8 adults £8 children 11.30am to 12.30pm Free – reserve seats by emailing [email protected] (limited numbers)

Tuesday, 16 July Night-time Stargazing at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy. Take part in night-time stargazing at the Herschel Museum on the evening of the partial lunar eclipse. 8.30pm to 11pm Adult £10, Concession £7, Child £4 (limited numbers)

Focus on OUR VOLUNTEERS the Collection We would like to say a big thank you to all the We have been fortunate to have support for The displays at the Herschel Museum have had Herschel volunteers who made 2018 a not only the front of house role, but also school a bit of a spruce up during the winter closed successful year, it was the busiest year in visits, social media, astronomy events, and period. Many of the pictures have been moved Herschel Museum history! We had great garden maintenance. Rebecca Gallo, a to new locations in order for the story in the feedback from visitors from all over the world placement volunteer studying a degree in museum to flow more succinctly. Visitors are praising the volunteer’s efforts, such as: model making at Bournemouth University, has now introduced to all the members of the designed and made a scale model of the family, through their portraits, in the Dining ‘Really friendly and knowledgeable European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Room, and can ponder the use of astronomy in volunteers make this place!’ Observatory for our exhibition ‘Invisible Light’. 18th and 19th century satirical prints as they ‘The chap who greeted us on arrival We are always looking for friendly and make their way up the stairs. All the objects in was superb.’ enthusiastic people to join the volunteer team, the museum have also been given new labels ‘The lady on reception was so polite so please spread the word! and further stories about the Herschels’ lives and welcoming.’ have been added. ‘We enjoyed our time learning about the sun and telescopes with your excellent guides in such a wonderful spot!’

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 17 Our Archives and Museum Shops

SHOPPING IN OUR MUSEUMS We have a wide range of gifts, books and cards and the museum shops are open to the public again. At No. 1 Royal Crescent the displays in the shop have been refreshed during the winter maintenance period and new stock lines have been brought in. New ranges include artists’ prints of the Royal Crescent, including this watercolour with daffodils. We also have a greater variety of greetings cards and notecards on offer than we had before. Some of our best sellers from Frederica Cards that have been out of stock for nearly a year, have been reprinted and are available to customers once more. The first days of re-opening at No. 1 Royal Crescent have been busy and yielding an average transaction value of over £8. This gives us a good start and an opportunity to invest more in new product ranges in the near future, and adjust our offer to a wider market. Come and explore all our shops and see the varied range of goods we offer. ARCHIVES The archive at Bath Preservation Trust occasionally receives donations of records from outside the organisation. Last year the archive made one such acquisition, from the family of the late Bath architect Patricia Fereday. Patricia trained under respected Bath architect, Hugh Roberts, at a time when it was difficult for women to enter the profession. She went on to work as a freelance architect for private clients and practices in Bath and the South West, and won a conservation award for the restoration of The Warren House, a 17th century property in Cambridgeshire. Her influences were vernacular architecture, the Arts and Crafts movement, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The collection of over 100 of Patricia’s sketches and plans for properties in and around Bath have been sorted and catalogued in the archive by an undergraduate student, Paige, from Bath Spa University while she was on placement at the Museum of Bath Architecture. PLAN FOR ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH HOUSE, DRAWN BY ARCHITECT PATRICIA FEREDAY

18 bath-preservation-trust.org.uk World Heritage Site Enhancement Fund

FIFTIETH STREET SIGN The Fund’s programme of conserving and restoring Bath’s historic incised and painted street signs has now been in progress for nine years, and the milestone of completion of the fiftieth sign has been reached, in Pierrepont Street. There are more planned for next year, and suggestions are always welcome. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PIERREPONT STREET SIGN, BEFORE AND AFTER.

JOHN SYDNEY GARDENS WOOD Heritage Lottery Funding has been granted for new planting, landscaping, and restoration of some of the Gardens’ historic TRAIL features. The WHEF will help fund the repair of the Edwardian cast-iron Ladies A Trail to celebrate the lives and achievements and Gents loos, which date from the early of the two John Woods, father and son, is years of public conveniences. The fragile being modelled on the World Heritage Site structures are Grade II listed, and on the City Trail. Maps will guide walkers on a tour of “At Risk” register. the Woods’ architecture in the city centre, and to Upper Swainswick church, burial place of THE DILAPIDATED EDWARDIAN LADIES’ IN SYDNEY GARDENS John Wood, and Woolley church, designed by his son.

WOOLLEY CHURCH OCTAGON CHAPEL IN SMALLCOMBE CEMETERY A.S. Goodridge’s Octagonal Non-conformist Chapel has been neglected in recent years, suffering from damp problems and stone decay especially to the little belfry. With the help of volunteers, and financial support from the WHEF and the Council, a French drain has been installed, new stone carved for the belfry, and a bell reinstated.

For further information, help and advice, or to suggest possible projects, please contact the Fund Administrator, Ainslie Ensom, on [email protected]

THE OCTAGON CHAPEL THE CHAPEL’S BELFRY

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk 19 AGM date and time announced in Bath’s newest community space

This year’s BPT AGM will take place on 4th Thomas Sheppard has mentioned on Page 3 July 2019 and revert to an afternoon time of that the Trust is always interested in hearing 3:30pm. In the spirit of exploration of places from potential trustees, in particular (at this and venues which may be new to our time) from people from the disciplines of members, it will take place at The Hub, town planning, finance, PR or education. The Mulberry Park. This is the new community AGM is the chance for the membership to venue providing a focus for the housing vote for new trustees, which can be put development on the old Foxhill MOD site, forward by the existing board but can also be alongside the new school, nursery and café. nominated from the membership. If you There is limited parking at the venue so want to be formally considered in this way, please think about using the bus, which please contact Caroline Kay in the first travels direct to the door. More travel details instance [email protected] will follow with the AGM papers, together with the speaker and opportunities to walk We will need to receive any formal the site. The meeting will be followed by tea, nominations by Thursday, 4 April. coffee and cakes.

bath-preservation-trust.org.uk [email protected] +44 (0)1225 338 727 We are a membership organisation and a registered charity. Registered office: The Bath Preservation Trust Limited, 1 Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LR Registered in England no. 294789, Charity no. 203048 Design: www.ninepoint.co.uk, Print: emtone.co.uk